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Hate*.
Hfalready nambertng m' roWshtp of forty thou
wfpfand rapidly increasing from day to day, presents
BSCver y class of our ci tile ns, both in Georgia nd <S*e-
KTere one of the roost efficient and valuable adtertis
[ffir mediums In theland. It will circulate in ertry
Bounty In the State, and trill doubtlcia come under the
Byes of a hundred thousand persons. All Interested
Should not tail to take notice of thlsfact.
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Official Organ of the Patrons of Husbandry.
ATLANTA GEORGIA, JUNE 30, 1877-
The Fair Aasoclatlon of Allmu j, <>a.
We see in the Albany News a highly
interesting letter from that gifted andi
accomplished farmer of Lee county, Dr J
Stevens. The Doctor never speaks
or writes foolishness, hut speaks to the
point, and writes with vigor and to the
understanding.
He discusses at length the great ne
cessity of establishing a “Fair Associa
tion” at Albany, and points out ;he
great benefit which has accrued to the
people of Thomas county, from the per
sistent course they have pursued in
keeping up their Fair Association. We
second the motion of the Doctor, and
would throw out influence in favor of
this scheme, and urge our friends and
patrons and subscribers, who live in
reach of Albany, to go vigorously .to
work at once anjd build up that section
of the State through this medium. We
know what the country is capable if
developing, it ifropprly handled. _IV_
GodHsp’eisd.
CbaTaa,
A writer in the Keowee Courier,
signing himself “ F. M. M.,” raises his
warning voiee to all who are cultiva
ting the chufa. Ho says: “I have
concluded to ease my consience
of all future crimination on this
behalf, by giving to your readers, with
your permission, my experience with
the wonderful 4 chufa.’ ”
He then, in an article of some length,
relates his experience—having tried
the chufa in his garden some years ago,
and now the garden is infested with
the worthless growth, “ the power to
multiply increasing as they become
valueless.” He concludes by saying:
“ Root it out, and save trouble in the
future.”
We have advocated the cultivation
of chufa in the columns of The
Grange, not from very much personal
experience, but from the experience of
the very best farmers of the State. We
were a little shy of the “nut” ourselves,
from the fact that we had much expe
rience in the “ nut grass," (not as “ F
M. M.” terms it, the “grass nut ”)
when we lived in Beaufort district,
South Carolina. From our knowledge
of the nut grass, though it makes a
good pasture for hogs and cattle, we
consider it a bane to any plantation,
and especially in sandy soil. We have
had hundreds or acres of good fertile
sandy land rendered valuless —except
for pasturage —by* being infested with
the nut grass. And if “F. M. M.,” or
any other person, can prove to us that
the chufa degenerates into this pest, we
would say to the readers of The
Grange never to allow another chufa
to como within sight of the farm. One
of the editors planted, a few years ago,
in his garden, in the town of Forsyth,
Monroe county, a few chufas, but not
a sprig is now to be seen, although
they made a good yield the first year.
We hop3 that those of our sub
scribers who have had any experience
in the cultivation of chufa for the past
few years, will let us hoar from them
on the subject of its disposition to
spread and degenerate.
Of the public school domain of
Texas, the-e are said to be 20,000,000
acres now in or to go into the market
for the next eight or ten years, at the
minimum price of $1,50 per acre, which
will make a school fund of $30,000,000. J
Sat J&ifr
Doubtless as incon
sistent as the average of mortals, and
in nothing do they evince that unde
sirable characteristic more than when
discussing the “dog question.” Econo
my, convenience, and it may be added,
necessity, demand the presence of the
dogs as an adjunct of pastoral sheep
husbandry. Under certain circum
stances he will do the work of two or
three men, and do it quicker, while
occasionally his speed and sagacity can
be depended upon for results beyoud
the power of any man to accomplish.
All this with the proviso that he has
been well trained, and is subsequently
properly controlled. Under these con
ditions he is all that the fancy of the
poet or the enthusiasm of the shep
herd paints him. His movements are
such that the sheep are not crowded
upon each other, or frightened into a
run when they should be allowed to
move quietly. In short, the well
trained dog, under proper management,
will do the right thing, in the right
way, at the right time. The half
trained dog can be depended upon to
do the reverse of this, and his presence
will prove a constant expense.
Where sheep are handled in small
flocks, as on the average farm, the
necessity for employing a dog is much
diminished, and, in a majority of cases,
ibis presence is an actual detriment.
Unless constantly together, the sheep
and dog become unfamiliarized, and the
consequent fright of the one, and haste
and heedlessness of the other, aggre
gate detrimental results that have little
compensation iu any supposed advan
tages. Further than this, where a farm
is fenced into different fields, as is us
ually the rule where mixed husbandry
is pursued, the iuclosures are small,
and the sheep soon become so familiar
with them that little or no driving is
necessary. If properly taught, they
will pass from one field to another at
the call of the owner —in which a few
handfuls of salt will be found a valua
ble incentive.
In the foregoing we have purposely
overlooked any detriment that is quite
too likely to result from a lack qjf'con
fHo.nl. eirj,foment the
average sheep dog. His active dispo
sition makes him more dangerous than
the majority of his genus when from
under proper restraint. All who have
had experience concur in this conclu
sion. Then, again, no dog should be
kept by the farmer without some ne
cessity exists for his presence, that will
pay the expense of keep, and compen
sate for such losses as are quite cer
tain to result from his mistakes and
less amiable eccentricities. The diatribes
against the multitude of “worthless
curs” that constantly emanate from the
luckless farmer, who is smarting under
some recent result of their depreda
tions, would have additional force ii
backed by the knowledge that the ex
ample of the preacher waß consistent
with his precepts. A large majority of
dogs are not only useless, but they are
encsmously expensive; and as sheep
owners oftener and more forcibly real
ize such fact than other classes, so
should they he foremost in observing
the rule suggested, which seems the
only remedy outside of the temporary
relief afforded by the ballet and bait.
. %
Agriculture mid Prouptrlljr.
While our manufacturing and com.
rnercial interests languish in some
sections of the country, it is a notable
fact that the agriculturist is compara
tively prosperous, finding a ready sale
at paying prices for all his products.
While it is the most primitive, farming
is the most independent calling a man
cau engage in. But it is especially like
any other business in that it must he
learned. The merchant or mechanic
that concludes he will go t3 farming on
the supposition that anybody can
mauage a farm usually pays dearly for
bis experiment, but no more so than
the farmer who concludes to start a
factory or run a steamboat. The pres
ent army of school teachers, lawyers,
shoe makers aud editors will not make
successful fanners. The boys must
be taught that of all callings that of a
farmer is the surest as well as among
the most honorable. Let the boys
understand that while all other pur
suits are precarious, to the fairer the
means of living are always The
farmer may not bo able in a given year
to sell his surplus crops at a remuner
ative price, but short of general
famine, the food and shelter are sure.
He is certain of the prime essential of
life, food, for he makes it himself, and
is not obliged to earu money to buy it.
He grapples, hand to'h%iu, with the
elements of human Jj£|£ 4 ' and makes
them his own, and(oy,{fulfilling his
part of th 9 great contraei which man
kind holds ’ with nature; hinds her to
his support. This is aftWue of the
small farmer who aims Ay at com
fortable competence withefl endeavor
ing to amass wealth. In Hhe case of
large agricultural operations, under,
taken as speculative ventures, it would
be hard to show that, whAe of course
more risky than the class above referred
to, they rest on a surer foundation and
are more certain of success than most
speculative schemes. .
- • - ►-
management or Fruit Trees.
1 -.
What may be now a teri ler, quick
growing sprout, will, in 0< ober, be a
strong, woody branch, ani perhaps a
branch just where it is not ’anted, and
which must be removed use of a
saw or strong knife. At thj right time
the shoot could have been Tubbed off,
aud not only the trouble by removing
the branch avoided, but lie useless
growth would have been wrected to
parts where it was needed. Lf
If one has a careful eye tokkis young
trees he can, by rubbing bud or
shoo* here, and pinching a shoot there,
so direct the giowth that hfthe time
the trees come into bearing ihey will
be of proper form, and very little work
will be required of the priffnng saw
and chisel.
If large limbs are to be removed from
neglected trees, this month ortiext (ac
cording to locality—at any rate, when
the spring growth is made and the
leaves have obtained full size ifYid sub
stance) is by many preferred for the
work, as wounds low heal /apidly.
Cut all large wounds with a
drawing-knife and cover with khellac
varnish, melted grafting-wax or thick
paint. &
Borers do not breed in the trees, as
some suppose. Every' borer in the tree
went in. The parent winged insect laid
the egg on the bark. The borer
hatched out, at once bored its way into
the tre°, and there it will stay until it
comes out a perfect insect, qr is cut
npt, e<f if pnn^ticdin
But please observe, no'patent stuff that
is to be laid in the crotch of the tree,
no stuff that you may paint on the
trunk, no “invigorator,” or anything
that you apply to the soil, to he taken
up by the roots and thus poison the
borer, will he of any earthly use. While
you are fussing with such treatment the
borer is quietly at work, perhaps stop
ping now aud then to laugh at the folly
of the performance. Cut with knife
and punch with wire.
The slug, so-called, hut which is really
a caterpillar, will appear, especially on
the pear and cbprry leaves, aud, unless
checked, often makes sad work. It is a
dark green, leech-like creature, that
leaves a slimy trail. Slaked lime, dusted
from a course bag at the end of a pole,
will soon end it. In a dry time, fine
dust from the road may be thrown into
the trees with good effect.
Col. ITI. C. Fullou.
Brother Fulton, always good and
true to the cause, writes us the follow
ing letter. Will our brother Patrons
read this letter, aud ‘‘govern themselves
accordingly
I must have The Grange ; can’t do with
out it. Don’t (ail to send The Grange.
1 wish you would say in The Grange that I
will be glad to visit any Grange in my dis
trict, when notified or requested, and will
council with the brethren for the good of the
Order. I cannot promise set speeches, as 1
have not time to prepare them, but will talk
to them The fact is, I don’t feel like prom
ising anything more, for 1 can’t make
speeches. Fraternally, M. C. Fulton.
Stonewall, June 16th.
The American Agriculturist very
justly says: “Cows are now in their
prime, and justice should be done them
by using care and skill in the dairy.
June butter is the best of the season,
aud may be packed so as to keep per
fectly for a year. Use only the best
quality of salt, the price of which is
really no object, considering that only
one ounce of it goes to a pound of
butter, and the difference in the quality
of the salt may easily make five or ten
cents a pound variation in the value of
the butter.”
The United States Department of
Agriculture reports that during the
last twelve months, not less than 4,-
000,000 hogs, of all aget, valued at
more than $20,000,000, have fallen vie*
tirns to various diseases. Oue fifth of
the whole was lost by Illinois, latest
Virginia being the lightest loser.
—The rice crop is in splendid con
dition, and a large crop is expected.
The Orange Revival.
The Mission of our Order—Support your Jour
nal—A Strong and Interesting Letter, from
the W. of the State Grange
Ooonek, Ga., June 26, 1877.
Bros. Georgia Grange —The rapid
return to our fold of so many dormant
Granges, as reported in your last issue,
is indeed cheering. With the earnest
efforts of our Deputies, Masters, Secre
taries and members, as also our organ,
we may confidently expect to see our
organization revived, and your paper
filled weekly with reports from working
brothers, reorganizing and revivifying
our noble work. Organization is a
universal index of development; indi
viduals, separate and doubt
less, have power, but when united under
an organized association —thinking to
gether, working together—they become
a power capable of accomplishing won
ders,and it is gratifying to see and know
that the tillers of the soil—that class
that feeds the world and clothes the
same, and fills but few offices, but elects
the officers that fill’ them, from the
smallest to the greatest positions—have
organized themselves so far as to co
operate and wield their power; they
unite will and understauding, in a con
centrative manner, in order that they
may, by unity of action, by unity of
intellect and judgment, as also by the
unity of knowledge, show a front that
will startle the world and bring about
a reform that the times so loudly call
tor,and correct the thousands of ills that
now curse our land. To do this, who
doubts the impoitauce of the farm
ers combining in an organization, even
if it is called the Grange ?
DISTINGUISHED FARMEHB.
Who is there in our organization that
will admit they are tired of the Grange,
though it would not be surprising if
there could be found such, for in this
uncharitable world there are some men
tired of living, their existence is bur
densome to them, yea, even tired of the
birds sweet songs of the lovely ami
beautiful flowers, the bright and invig
orating sunshine, as well as the re
freshing showers. The great and good
Lord in His infinite wisdom has failed
to make a world or a paradise, it would
tlysJ could H satisfy men
Though we may have some such among
us, let us not he a sham ell of our calling
as farmers; great, good and wise men
long* ago, took upon themselves our
vocation. Adam was a farmer while
in paradise, and after his fall was com
manded to earn his bread by the sweat
of his brow. The honest, upright and
patient Job was a farmer and his en
durance has passed into a proverb.
Socrates was wedded to his calling as a
farmer ; Burns was a farmer, and the
muse found him at the plow, aud filled
his soul with poetry. The father of his
country, Washington, the noblest ol
them all, was a tanner, who retired
from the highest eaithly position to
enjoy the quietude aud peace attendant
upon rural life, and who presents to
the world a grand spectacle of human
greatness.
To these great and honored names
many more might he added of equal
fame and greatness; and many noble
men and women I could mention, of
the present day, are seeking peace and
repose iu mother earth ; and these, the
material combined, form the Grange
organization, some of the leading ob
jects of which is to promote, as far as
possible, a spirit of brotherly love
among the tillers of the soil; to elevate
the farmers to a higher standard iu
agriculture; to adopt a heller aud wiser
system in the cultivation of our crops ;
to disjiense iu part with the services of
our army of oppressive extortioners ; to
make farm life more attractive by beau
tifying and adorning our homes;
and last, but mot least, to make our
farms self-sustaining. To cany these
objects out, who will be so silly as to
question the importance of the Grange,
and who so silly as to he ashamed to
advocate these objects ?
NOT ON THE DECLINE.
Often is the remark made that the
Grange is on the decline—that, like
other projective movements, it was lim
ited to the correction of certain abuses,
and this done, its great mission is
ended; and, iu the opinion of
many, the organization is greatly on
the ebb. To our miud there is not that
eyidence of decay inside of our gates
that the outside world claims.
We acknowledge that some who
united themselves with our organiza
tion in its incipiency have fallen by the
wayside, that very many of them entered
our gates from motives foreign to the
good of our organization—from mere
selfish motives—and left our fold. But
it has proven a blessing to our flock —
stripped of such material as has re
tarded oui progress, our organiza
tion to-day is composed only of such
material as never intend to wit
ness the death and burial of our noble
organization. The accessions being
made to our ranks to-day come from
such material as will aid in building
up as well as strengthen our work,
and make it the means of perma
nent usefulness to the agricultural
world. We should be firm, and like
true men earnestly determine,
In spite of clouds and tempest roar
In spite of false lights on the shore,
to keep the helm true to the chart and
compass —not to think for one moment
of giving up the ship, for our cause is
one of justice, and if we stand united
and firm, a better day awaits us.
We should earnestly labor to occupy
the highest standard,in our grand move
ment, among other States. Let it not
be said of Georgia that it is a laggard
in the great race to redeem the land.
We may, and will, encounter difficul
ties ; overcome them, remembering that
difficulties are but opportunities to test
our abilities.
SUPPORT YOUR ORGAN.
Now, brethren, the task is before
us. Who *ran do most to accom
plish the desired end ? The reply
comes from all, support our organ. To
sustain, to build up our organization,
we are furnished with a medium, The
Georgia Grange, which we have wisely
adopted as our organ, the subscription
of which has recently been reduced to
the low price of one dollar per annunii
to meet the stringency of the times,
and place it within the reach of every
Patron. Brethren, is it worthy of your
patronage ? The voice of all that read
The Georgia Grange loudly replies, it
is—not a number of it but furnishes val
uable information and advice, which, if
heeded, would amply remunerate the
reader beyond the pitiful sum of one
dollar. The Georgia Grange has not
only reduced its price of subscription,
but has added to its editorial columns
Colonel Clarke, so well and favorably
known in the newspaper world, thereby
materially adding interest as well as
a. 11 i'. V’, !*x p • s-* to
r en, 6fh8.1l we not demolre^r^^W:>ul , ap
preciation of the wise and earnest ef
forts made by our brethren to furnish
us a first class agricultural paper at so
low a price, and when so much needed
by the agricultural world ? Every Pa
tron should subscribe tor The Georgia
Grange. They should read one agri
cultural paper, and The Georgia
Grange being our organ, and our me
dium of communication with our broth
erhood, keeping them informed of the
workings of our organization, as
well as agricultural progress, thev
should subscribe for that paper. I be.
speak for our organ a liberal patron
age, thereby giving it power and influ
ence to accomplish much good.
I cannot close this hasty communi
cation without again reminding our
brotherhood that we have a competent
and faithful agent (Mr. J. H. Ketner, of
Atlanta), whom we recommended at the
last meeting of the State Grange, aud
who stands ever ready to serve us in
the purchase of any article, however
small, and for him, like our organ, I
bepeak a liberal patronage. By unity
of action in carrying out all these sug
gestions, our organization will take a
position in our Order worthy of our old
Commonwealth. Fraternally,
T. J. Smith,
Master Georgia State Grange.
♦ ♦
Brother J. G. B. Erwin. —We had
the pleasure of a call last week from
our highly esteemed brother, J. G. B.
Erwin. We are always glad to see
him. He is one of the best friends of
The Grange, and stands prominent
among the most ardent and efficient
Patrons in Georgia. Brother Erwin
left with us two specimens of fine wheat,
onethe“Pultz,” of which he has twenty
acres that will make twenty-five bushels
to the acre; the other is “Clanson’s
Winter White,” seed for a trial patch
of which having been by the
Commissioner of Wash
ington. Both
iugly fine, and prove the success that
can be accomplished in wheat culture
in our favored State.
W. M. Smith’s Letter. —We pub
lished last week the able letter of the
Secretary of the State Grange. This
week we have the pleusure of laying
before our readers the long aud inter
esting letter of the Worthy Master.
We call especial attention to it, aud
beg that every subscriber read carefully
every word contained in his letter.
Potatoes for Cows.
We*do not think the partial experi
ments updfa this matter are properly
interpreted, even by those who have
made them. It has been found“hat a
large feed of potatoes lessens the per
centage of hay digested ; but we think
the large amount of starch contained
in the potato causes a looseness of the
bowels, and thus impairs the digestive
functions. We have often fed potatoes
to cows in milk, with great benefit.
Our plan ha 9 been to run potatoes
through a root-slicer, and feed four
quarts at a time, mixed with cut hay
and a pint of oil meal or pea meal, or
a quart of oats. And since the exper
iments mentioned, we have again tried
this mode of feeding and found it to
work admirably well. The potato is a
very imperfect food alone, being prin
cipally starch, having too little nitrogen
and phosphate of lime to make milk;
but it is the richest root raised on the
farm, and when fed in small quantity
raw, will regulate the bowels aud have
a similar effect to green grass. It is a
very laxative food in the raw state, and
that is, probably, the cause of its pe
culiar effect upon the digestion of hay.
When the potato is cooked the effect
is quite different and its value is greatly
increased. A small quantity of pota
toes, say four quarts as a feed, will
increase the yield of milk nearly as much
as so much grain, provided they are
fed with other food rich in the constit
uents of milk. The American dairy
man is prone to feed one thing-at a
time, almost wholly, instead of giving
variety in food which will furnish all
the elements required in the proper
proportion. We found an objection to
the use of oil meal when fed above two
pounds per day to a cow, as it is too
laxative. We found one quart per day
the most profitable, and have also
found one peck of potatoes per day in
two feeds, the most profitable.
C. H. Williams, E3q.—We co, ied
yesterday from the Hamilton Journal
an editorial supporting this gentleman
in his candidacy for the Secretaryship
of the Constitutional Convention. The
reasons given in favor of his election
were strong agd weighty, and we hove
mat" filler'* w considered”lfl|
the members of the (iimvention.totomS
not simply because of late editoml as-|
sociation that we desire the election of
Mr. Williams, but because we know
liis efficiency, and his fidelity to any
work which he may undertake. He is
thoroughly impressed with the impor
tance of retrenchment, and especially
in the clerical work of the Convention
and the Legislature. Should he be
chosen Secretary, we have nodoubt that
his administration of its work will ex
hibit such economy as to furbish an
excellent beginning in the reform which
the people require, and that the duties
of the position will be performed in a
manner to give entire satisfaction.—
Columbus Times.
Corn.
Of all the crops raised, probably none
is of such vast importance to farmers as
the corn crop, and on no account should
it be neglected.
Did you ever know any farmer to fail
whose cribs were filled with corn ?
Did you ever know a man to emigrate
whose cribs were filled with corn ?
Did you ever know a man to complain
of hard times whose cribs were filled
with corn ?
Did you ever know a man sold out
by the sheriff whose cribs were filled
corn ?
Did you ever know a man whose
houses and fences were all in good or
der, and that such other evidences of
prosperity crowned him, whose cribs
were not filled with corn ?
Did you ever know a planter proud
of himself, loved by his neighbors and
happy in his family, whose cribs weve
not filled with corn ?
Did you ever know a man who had
fat horses and mules, hogs, cattle, sheep
and poultry, whose cribs were not filled
with corn ?
Did you ever know a man who did
not raise it at home, whose cribs were
filled with corn ?
Be it Remembered. —Those who
joined the Grange thinking when once
‘■within the gates they would have
nothing to do but sit down and fill
their pockets, of course have been dis
appointed. The Grange is no friend to
laziness ; it has no need for idleis. But
for true, earnest, thoughtful men and
women it ever extends a helping hand.
It recognizes the fact that those who
try to help themselves are deserving
of help; and “he who would be free
must strike the blow.” Such members
both give and receive encouragement
wherever to be found.
In Monroe county the pork pros
pect is fifteen per cent, above an aver
age. Three per cent, of the sheep of
the counly was destroyed by dogs, and
ten per cent, died from disease.